Raising the holiday spirit

As more and more Metro Manilans enjoy the benefits of high rise living in the city, the need for special interior design solutions for condominium spaces has never been more keenly felt. In time for the coming holidays, Christmas stylist Dolly Rodriguez was tapped by Laguna Properties Holdings Inc. to provide suggestions for this growing breed of homeowners.

Laguna Properties Holdings Inc. ( LPHI ), a subsidiary of Ayala Land, and the leading provider of homes in the P1 million to P3 million price range, currently offers two convenient Metro Manila condos for young couples, professionals as well as Filipinos based overseas. Its popular One Aeropolis Sucat and Aeropolis New Manila residential units which boast of large windows and the abundance of natural light are located on Dr. A. Santos Drive in Parañaque and on Bonny Serrano, Quezon City, respectively. LPHI also offers quality yet affordable houses-and-lots in suburban locations to cater to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino family.

Because they have high clearances which allow better ventilation, Aeropolis units lend themselves to decorations suspended from the ceiling. According to Rodriguez, this leaves the floor free and also maintains the image of spaciousness. Below are other tips she offers to condo dwellers wishing to fix up their homes for the holidays.

Maintain a single dominant color. In the One Aeropolis unit she decorated, Rodriguez focused on red which beautifully complemented the olive and taupe interiors. She mixed red with touches of gold. Nonetheless, she has also used midnight blue, and even purple for more sophisticated looks. She notes, nonetheless, that she mixed both generously with crystal to capture the sparkle of the holidays.

Instead of a traditional tree, work on a smaller alternative. Rather than take up floor space with a four- or six-foot tree, Rodriguez opted to turn a lamp into a makeshift tree simply by hanging ornaments on it. A Christmas tree is not always needed to capture the holiday spirit.

Let ribbons tell the story. Wired ribbons can be wrapped around pillows and ottomans to instantly communicate Christmas. They can also decorate garlands. Rodriguez highly recommends wired ribbons instead of non-wired ones because the former has body. For as long as they are returned to the roll after the holidays, wired ribbons can be used and reused through the years.

Select a focal point. For a unit less than 50 sqm., Rodriguez suggests focusing attention on only one main element. In the One Aeropolis unit, a floral centerpiece on top of the dining table is it.

Limit your design elements. In a compact space, avoid using too many elements. Rodriguez herself highly favors the use of Christmas balls. Suspended from the ceiling with nylon string or simply gathered in a crystal bowl, balls are festive. She has also sewn them onto the edges of a tablecloth thrown over an accent table. She favors mixing balls with twigs, berries and flowers and no more. Otherwise, a compact space may look too busy.